Lawmakers from across Africa have committed to strengthening legislative frameworks for digital technologies during the inaugural Africa Digital Parliamentary Summit in Lusaka.
Convened by the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), African Population Health Research Center (APHRC), GSMA, and Zambian government, the July 2025 summit focused on AI, data governance, digital health, and smart manufacturing.
Draft projections presented indicate Africa’s digital health sector could reach $6.5 billion by 2030. A joint PAP-GSMA statement emphasized AI’s potential to advance universal health coverage through integrated data systems, alongside smart manufacturing’s role in industrial resilience. The summit highlighted urgent needs for continent-specific data governance and ethical AI frameworks.
Delegates adopted the Lusaka Declaration, outlining priorities for inclusive digital transformation. The document mandates cross-border collaboration on data privacy laws, responsible AI development, and specialized training for policymakers. PAP Committee Chair Behdja Mokrani noted the summit equipped legislators to navigate Fourth Industrial Revolution challenges through evidence-based governance.
Implementation will focus on harmonizing regulations across 54 member states, with initial working groups expected by Q4 2025.
